I do not neglect this great salvation God has given me. It is spoken of by Jesus and confirmed by the words of his apostles. You, father, confirm it every day with signs and witness and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I see Jesus made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. I see him crowned with glory and honor. I see him taste death for me. With his life, death, and resurrection he brought many sons to glory.  He is the captain of my salvation.

Jesus was made perfect through suffering. He was sanctified and I am sanctified in him. He calls me, brother. He took part in flesh and blood that through death he would destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.

Ed’s thoughts (make them yours. If you agree with them, preach them out loud to yourself)

My response to Jesus becomes my main occupation. My work is to believe on him as the Messiah. To be effective that kind of belief must grow and become experiential.  I must grow in my understanding of how lost I am and how helpless I am to affect any reconciliation.  I am blessed when I realize how “poor in spirit” I am and how thoroughly I need a savior.

Also, I must study and receive exhortation about how completely and thoroughly Jesus fulfills the position of Savior, deliver, reconciler, and sustainer. He is the one; not me, and I must see that, believe that, and act on it. If it (i.e. my faith or belief) is real then I will progressively see how desperate my need and how completely, exceedingly, beyond all I could ask or think, Jesus has met each of my real (spiritual, emotional and physical) needs. The proper response then is to seek him actively.

When I realize what God in Christ has done for me, I can understand and find hope in the fact that no matter how bad this earthly situation, the real eternal situation is filled with hope and assured of joy. I need to understand, pray, and study to believe that I have all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called me to his own glory and excellence.

I have been granted His precious and very great promises, so that, through them, I become a partaker of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  I am told, “to make every effort to grow, to add to, to mature” in the character of Christ.

I concentrate on Jesus as the Messiah; not just a great man, but as Messiah, the one sent by God. The question is will I believe him and follow him as the only way; not bumbling along with some Jesus and some me, but will I reckon myself dead, crucified, no longer in the equation, just a sheep following my shepherd? And so confident and knowledgeable of my shepherd that I want for nothing.  Following along in the sure knowledge that all is well and is going to be well even if we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death; even if sin is all around me.  If I am in Christ I have escaped the world.

Thoughts

Biblical thankfulness is being thankful for what God has done, therefore, we need to know the word of God enough to know what God in Christ has done for us.

Colossians 1:9-14  Here Paul doesn’t pray for what they don’t have, he prays they will grow in their awareness and understanding of what they do have. I need to come to, daily and moment by moment, a greater understanding that by god’s grace and Christ’s courage, I have been qualified, delivered, transferred, redeemed, and forgiven.

When I realize what I have in Christ, if I really experientially realize, then I can be thankful in all situations; not thankful for all circumstances, but thankful in all circumstances. I can understand and find hope in the fact that no matter how bad this earthly situation, the real eternal situation is filled with hope and assured of joy.  I need to understand, pray, and believe that I have all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called me to his own glory and excellence.

Father, I have been wrong. Thank you for forgiving me. I have spent too much time allowing selfish and self centered thoughts to lead in my mind, my feelings, and even my words. This is wrong. I repent. I have wallowed in self pity and given place to a “put up on” attitude and this is wrong. I repent.

I see and know the blessings of God and I abound with thanksgiving. I thank you, father, for all the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and grands that you have given to me.

Now I surrender myself anew. I realize I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I get to live, but this life I live is Christ living in me.  Today whatever I say and do, I do it all to the Lord giving thanks to God, the father, through him. Whatever I do today I do it heartily as unto God and not for man. …. For I serve the Lord Christ.

Even if!!

ed thoughts and God’s Word

Christ is all and in all. Jesus is in me, that is my hope of glory; a glorious outcome regardless of current circumstances, appearances and suffering. Nothing dissuades my almighty father from his designated plans and path.  Nothing surprises or confounds him. He does not slumber nor sleep but constantly, thoroughly and joyfully works out his kingdom in me and in all those that are his and love the thought of his appearing.

I am his and he is mine. I put on as one of his chosen ones, holy and beloved, a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  I bear with others and I forgive others as Christ forgives me. The peace of Christ rules in my heart and I am thankful. The word of Christ dwells in me richly.  He teaches and admonishes me in all wisdom. I sing with thankfulness in my heart to God.

There is a simplicity in Christ. Jesus is the Christ of God, he came, lived and died and rose again as the scripture say. He is all and all, and in all.  All creation was created by him for him; he is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other name given whereby we are saved. He redeems us and we are no longer our own, we belong to him.

I am his and I follow him. I seek Him hard.  I welcome his presence. I feed on his word. I belong to him. My cup runs over. He annoints my head with oil. Goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life and I dwell in the house of my Lord forever.

Whatever I do today in word or in deed, I do it as unto God, giving thanks to the father through Jesus, and whatever I do, I do it heartily as unto God and not to men knowing that from God I receive the gift of the inheritance for I serve the Lord Christ.

Personal prayer: Ed and the Word

Lord, be the Lord of my life.  There are many things I would like to do and places I would like to see,  but I want what you want for me, Lord.  I don’t want to be “selfish” or out of your will, nor off on my own plans and not following you closely.  Lord, you are my shepherd, keep me following you closely.

I want to be a vessel meet for your use and prepared for every good work, work that you have ordained beforehand that I would walk in. Lord, I am your servant, filled with your word and led by your spirit. I will not strive with others, instead I am gentle to all, apt to teach, patient.  In meekness I instruct those that oppose them selves, praying the father will grant them repentance and they will recover them selves from the snare of the evil one.  I pray I will be wise until salvation, perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. That I would be instant to preach your word in season and out, reprove, rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Thank you, father, that you have saved me and called me with the holy calling, not according to my works, but according to your own purpose and grace, which was given to me in Christ Jesus before the world began. Jesus Christ has abolish death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. I pray that I would be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, that, you, Lord, would give me understanding in all things.  I pray I would avoid foolish unlearned questions, knowing that they just gender strife. By god’s grace I will not strive with others, instead I will be gentle, apt to teach, patient. I thank you, Lord, for your holy scripture which is able to make me wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus, the Christ.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works!

Thank you, father, that you have chosen me and you will not cast me off. I do not fear, for you are with me. I am not dismayed for you are my God.  You strengthen me and you help me. You uphold me with your righteous right hand.

You are God and you hold my right hand and you tell me, “fear not, I am the one who helps you. ” Even though I am weak and human, you, oh, my god, are the one who helps me.  You, the holy one, are my redeemer. I rejoice in you, Lord. In you, the holy one, I glory.  I am poor and needy, parched with thirst and you, my Lord, you answer me. You open rivers in bare land and fountains in the valleys. You make for me pools and springs in the wilderness.